From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:
Hardcover
My Ex-Life: A Novel by Stephen McCauley (Flatiron, $25.99, 9781250122438). "This story of loves both great and small is most certainly not saccharine sweet. My Ex-Life reminds us that there is a reason for everything, and that sometimes it's wise to go back to the familiar (albeit old) parts of ourselves to remind us just how far we've come. Stephen McCauley writes like your best friend--the one who always says what you're thinking but you'd never have the guts to utter out loud. His perception of even the mundane tasks of life reveals a witty tone dripping with self deprecation and amusement. This book is most certainly one you should put at the top of your to-be-read pile!" --Jordan Arias, Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, Ill.
First, We Make the Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety by Sarah Wilson (Dey Street, $25.99, 9780062836786). "First, We Make the Beast Beautiful evokes the strange and magical feeling of having discovered a personal journal in a public place. It is first and foremost a memoir that tackles difficult subjects, touching on many experiences, both traumatic and constructive, that the author feels have affected her journey through anxiety. A great deal of the book is spiritual and suggests that anxiety is the product of an unrest in the soul. Fans of Rupi Kaur will enjoy the candid rawness of this book, as it pulls them through a journey that is perhaps all too painfully familiar." --Kaitie Radel, The Oxford Exchange, Tampa, Fla.
Paperback
Wicked River: A Novel by Jenny Milchman (Sourcebooks Landmark, $15.99, 9781492658993). "I am a huge Jenny Milchman fan, so I had high expectations for this book. My expectations were met and surpassed. Doug and Natalie both have secrets and issues with trust. Add in debts to old friends and a wedding not celebrated by all, and complications are everywhere. The honeymoon in the wilderness is the stuff of nightmares and will keep your heart pounding. Any fan of a good thriller with psychological twists will love this book." --Jackie Willey, Fiction Addiction, Greenville, S.C.
For Ages 4 to 8
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal (Candlewick, $15.99, 9780763693558). "Names can be a powerful reminder of our family history, as debut author/illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal shows in this beautiful story about a little girl with a very long name. Alma complains about her name (didn't we all as kids?) but slowly changes her mind as her father explains which relative each of her names honors. Dreamy illustrations with a limited color palette show Alma and her ancestors with quirky, engaging details. Whether you have a long, short, common, or unique name, this book will make you think a little bit about your name and smile. A treasure." --Cecilia Cackley, East City Bookshop, Washington, D.C.
For Ages 9 to 12
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson (Arthur A. Levine Books, $16.99, 9780545946179). "Absolutely brilliant. A great balance between the satisfaction of solving a mystery along with the stark reality of life in the Jim Crow South, with a side helping of showing how people are able to change--for better or worse--at all stages of life." --Sarah Rettger, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, Mass.
For Teen Readers
Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter (Scholastic Press, $18.99, 9781338134148). "Ally Carter has done it again! I don't know how she manages to so perfectly balance a kick-ass teenage girl with just a pinch of over-the-top girliness, but she nails it every time. Basically, this can be considered a contemporary retelling of The Paper Bag Princess, where the prince is the U.S. president's son, the princess is the son's former best friend and daughter of the president's former body guard, and the dragon is a Russian operative. Oh, and the setting is winter in Alaska. And because it's Ally Carter, while the girl clearly saves the day and rescues the boy, she also ends up with the boy because teenage love conquers all. I read this in one sitting and recommend you do, too." --BrocheAroe Fabian, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, N.C.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
